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Welcome to AYD, and may this be the start of great things to come.
Pierre

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"What can we do, starting today, to build lasting success?"...."We all want to be part of something. We all want to feel great about the choices we make."

Friday, April 5, 2013

AYD - April 5, 2013 - We should not force the door on inspiration.

I began this morning, unattached to any specific inspired thought.
I browsed thru ideas, and projects and assorted quotes waiting for something to jump out at me.
Nothing sparked My Creative.
Nothing reached out and landed like a snowflake waiting for my wonder and deeper analysis.

I got a little frustrated...like I was a writer with some kind of timeline.  Like I had to put something down...even if I was not fully engaged; and then I realized I was forcing the idea, demanding something come to me ... and in doing so, I was getting further from My Truth.

And then...simple inspiration comes in the form of a clean, wrapped in white paper, no sharp edges, unpatterned and noninfluencing package.

Sometimes it is okay to allow expression to be quiet.
Sometimes our voice needs some time to listen.
- Pierre

So, instead of me sharing someone else's words today to help us on our way ... I suggest we come up with a few of our own.  If you were to write a quote that others could use today, or that you could share with yourself to jump start your day or to find happy thoughts or to get lost in a play on words with deep meaning... what would it say?

Imagine someone reading what you think of and being inspired.  Imagine the look on their face when they find a connection with word and feeling and some lost piece of their own puzzle.  Now remember you gave them that.  What would your words say ....?

Great Morning, Great day.  Greater you, and a better day for everyone else.

Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, and Author... and listening to the quiet inspiration.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

AYD - April 4, 2013 - Spring Cleaning - Mind Body and Wow...Look at all this Crap!

"Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy."
- Author unknown to me

Spring Cleaning is upon us.  Many will clean the house, look in dark corners, sweep under the bed, and most likely do a review of some stuff that is tucked away in boxes.  There will be good feelings and comparisons made in discussions of who got rid of what, how much, the new found clean feeling and that, "I feel better" that removes this nagging loose end from our to do list.

Decluttered is a feeling.  I think I will petition to have it in the dictionary as such.

"How are you?", asked Eliza.
"Decluttered", replied Mable.
"Oh, that must be wonderful !  How ever did you do it?  Please tell me", Eliza implored.

You get the idea.  And if Mable was smart she would write a How To book and charge $10.

And so...today we want to include that great feeling, and have you Spring Clean your thoughts, your feelings of guilt, feelings of failure, and basically any emotional tie you have that is holding you back.

Success books and self leadership books will always talk about surrounding yourself with like minded people.  I go on to say that you want to be one of those good like minded folks within yourself, and to others.  So it is time to walk away from unproductive feelings about your growth, success rate, where you are in life etc. 

Negative thoughts do not serve you, grow you, or make you happy.  Vicim or Victor people ! 

So.. checklist starts with the obvious.  People that drain your energy.  Where is my spray bottle of Mr. Clean?

Old pants in the back of the closet that might fit my ass again when I walk away from these pounds that no longer serve me... Gone.  Besides...they are out of style and people will laugh at you.  ( personal experience...shh...it still hurts.)

Boxes in the basement that hold onto stuff you have not even seen in 10 years.... Hey... look how that stuff shreds...Shredders make wonderful music.

And now... the most important check mark.... look at all those cluttered thoughts that stall your forward steps... Grab a fresh mind cloth...get it wet with clean warm water...and imaginary soap... and wipe, scrub, and do what you have to to get that clean canvas ready.

And... after all this cluttered babble... just read it again and close your eyes and think of one thing today you can get rid of.
"Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy."


Great morning, Great day.  Great you, a better day for others.
Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, and Author.... and making a solid effort daily to declutter, refuse and breathe deeper.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

AYD - April 3, 2013 - Who Has Control?

"If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself."
- Stephen Covey

Some days I am reminded that some of the best messages, are the most straight up obvious.

I could moan and whine about a number of things.  And no, even in the shower I cannot fool myself into thinking I sound good doing it.  Fact is, we all do it.  Complain.  Maybe there is merit in saying that it is healthy to get it out..voice it...give the feelings some freedom.  Like burning a letter to someone that has wronged you is supposed to offer you release to your pent up emotions.

(By the way...do not burn a letter to your boss...in the office...in the kitchen area... just saying.... those results you cannot control.)

So any situation you are in right now that is not favorable...and you are wishing on improvement... identify with it.  Pick one, like a goal, and focus on it.  Now... with this one ... what is happening that is not to your desires...and what is not happening to your satisfaction?  What is it that you Do Not want to continue?  List this out...and it will help you identify what you Do want to happen in a more clearly defined way.

And now - with the items not reaching potential...not meeting the mark.... what have you done about them?
Be honest with yourself... what could you do better?

This is why you start with one situation...break it down a little...add some focus and truth in healthy amounts... and the honesty within will come alot easier. You will find you are even more accepting of the truth when you identify one concern at a time. 

Why? 

Because one issue at a time is manageable.  

This is a great place to start your control of your self and your input into improving a situation.  Manage one thing..and you can see clearly, and reach with more confidence.  You are not overwhelmed, and losing control.

Work on you...and enjoy doing it, one thing at a time.  Before you know it, compound interest will relieve you of what felt like pressure mounting burdens.

Great morning, Great day.  Greater you, a better day for everyone else.
Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy and Author... and now I have to practice what I preach.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

AYD - April 2, 2013 - Drive Thru

"Look thru the finish line to a spot 10 meters beyond it, and make that your goal."
- Pierre Couturier

Imagine a runner on pace for a world record run...well ahead of the pack, the win is certain.  And in the last few strides before the finish line...they let up and coast across the line... missing the world record by fractions of a second.

Drive Thru.

There will be times when you have the space to go above and beyond.  You will see that you are going to reach your goal...that is part one of your success.  And when you have that luxury...drive thru.  Maintain momentum... draw another breath....head down...and drive on thru.

Great morning, great day. Great you, a better day for everyone else.

Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, Author and adjusting my markers.

Monday, April 1, 2013

AYD - April 1, 2013 - Be Ready to be the Artist

Inspiration can find you anywhere.  What better place to open that door for a greeting than on Opportunity Monday?

I glanced at our family calendar last nite.  One of those big ones you can put everything on for the family so everyone's events and appointments can get captured so our hectic lives can have some order.

Ironic then for me to see a simple quote right there at the top...

"All great changes are preceded by chaos."
- Deepak Chopra

So not only does this apply to the life you see laid out by appointments and schedules right there staring you in the face on the calendar, but it is a common denominator spreading it's truth to other often overlooked moments.

Monday mornings.
Packing before a holiday.
That important meeting.
Going back to school.
A financial planning meeting.
Announcements about that project at work.

My point is ... hold on, it gets better.  The chaos before great things taking place is like the countdown to lift off, the fuse being lit.   Energy runs rampant, ideas and tasks and What If's all compete for the same single sane brain cell we have left.

Be ready, by knowing this is, dare I say .... normal.
If you can hold on, recognize the signs... and know that something good will come of this - then you may very well be one of the elements that gives shape to the good outcome.

For example... "It's always crazy on Monday,"  is something you often may hear in the work place.
What if it was followed by your peers saying..." He's Always on his game on Monday!"

Be ready to be the artist of change when chaos is doing what it always does.

Great morning, Greater day.  Great you, a better day for everyone else.

Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, Author.... and planning my attack, pen in hand.